Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1887-07-08
WAR HEROINES.
The Romantic History ofTwo Female
Treasury Clerks.


Treasury Clerks.
A Washington letter to The Cincinnati En-
,uirsr says: There are now engaged in th,
'ilvision OF loans and currency of the treasury
department. two lady employees who have be
.ome widely known for their historical expert
.nce in war times.
Miss Harriet P. Dame, the armory nurs,
who won national fame by her four years and
light months of perilous service with the I'd
New Hampshire during the rebellion, deserves
irst mention. Her career has been repe atedly
published in part, but no writer who attempts
% chronicle all her thrilling, trying expert
.nces under deadly fire on the field of battle,
exposed to the eontending elements of heaven,
" over the wounded, sick, OR dying soldiers In
he hospitals, need ever hope to be successful
As matter of fact, and not merely sentiment,
1er history is written in scars held under
aer ministering hands, In hearts to whom she
ov her presence and deeds brought hope aud
comfort amid the sufIerings of war, and in
he memories of stricken, suffering ones, both
blue and gray, for whom she cared.
She was once taken prisoner (at the second
battle OF Bull Rum and detained week about
Stonewall Jackson's headquarters In tent
specially provided for her occupancy; but
when the general found on Investigating that
she was not spy, as suspected, he had her
released and permitted her to 90 undisturbed.
She was sent on highly-mportant and respon-
sihle missions at various times by the GOV
ernor OF New Hampshire, and BY other officials
and organizations, each time returning with
thoroughly reliable and practical reports, and
often doing efficient work in securing needed
reforms In the hospital and transportation ar
fragments.
For number Of years since the war hei
soldier friends had been urging her at differ
ent times to secure pension for her services,
but she modestly maintained that Size wanted
the soldiers pensioned first, and that she could
take care of herself.
This remarkable woman had served these
four years and eight months amid all the
carnage and suffering of war for the pittance
Of 81 month allowed army nurses. BY
special act of congress, secured by her friends,
she was gwen a pension of S25 month, be-
ginning on July 3, 1884 She allowed the
pension to run for considerable time; them
taking the amount due her and adding TO
the same from her modest earnings In the
government service, she built at her own ex-
pense house to be used as the future head
quarters of the I'd New Hampshire soldiers in
their reunions at the Weirs near lake Win
nepesaukee. This cost her $1,000, and Ex-
Gov. Smith, governor of New Hampshire at
the close of the war; furnished the house. At
The close of the war the legislature of New
Hampshire presented her with some highly
appreciative resolutions engrossed on parch-
mcnt, in recognition of her services, and also
presented her a sum of money.
She is now 72 years old and is a we'll preserv.
ed woman for her age. She wears plain
black dress, has we'll formed expressive
features, dark eyes, and hair only partially
turned gray. Her nose and forehead are
sharply and yet becomingly outlined She
10 engaged as a money counter at $500
per year.
Miss Margaret Coleman, in the same dlyi.
sion, was the housekeeper for the Seward fam.
lily In Washington at the time Of the assass
nation of Lincoln and the attempt on Secreta-
ry Stewards life. The screams OF Miss Fanny
Seward, who was in the room with her invalid
father when he was murderously attacked by |
Payne, brought Miss Coleman to the rescue,
and when Payne heard her coming he left Mr..
Seward who, in the struggle, had fallen out of |
bed and he was found by Miss Coleman be-
tween the bed and the wall, with his head still |
under the ciothes, and smotherng in his own |
blood. Payne bad lost his hat, and paused |
TO loo in vain for what was after |
ward to be a silent but unimpeachable witness
against him. He then rushed for the door, |
and, meeting Miss Coleman, threw himself |
against her. hurling her against the door as 1t
stood open and dislocating her shoulder blade.
Further on he passed Miss Fannie in hot
,aste and made his escape.
Miss Coleman was with the Seward family
light years, and witnessed the rapid decline
II both Mrs. Seward and Miss Fannie, who
lever revived from the shock of that terrible
tight of the 14th of April, 1855 Mrs. Seward
lied in June, and Miss Fannie in the fall fol
owing the awful scenes of attempted assassi-
ration In their home Miss Coleman tells the
tory as viy dly as though 1t had been witness
d scarcely an hour ago. She is now 81 years
II age, and serves as messenger at $500 a
ear She has been in the division twelve
ears.